There are 143 wild Atlantic salmon producing rivers in Ireland (SSC-IFI 2017). Since the termination of at-sea mixed stock drift net fisheries in 2007, management has focused at the river stock unit; and harvesting is now allowed only in estuaries and rivers. Scientifically determined conservation limits (CLs) are established for 141 systems distributed throughout 7 catchment basins.  Fishing is restricted to target only stocks assessed as having harvestable surplus above CLs.

Management of Ireland’s wild Atlantic salmon is the responsibility of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), and is administered locally by basin (IFI 2017). Basins are further subdivided into 17 fishery districts. The 7 fishery units presented in the profiles herein reflect Ireland’s “Basin” organizational units, though under FishSource organizational standards, they are termed “Districts”.